New Motorcycle App Helps You Ride Faster, Turn Sharper, Brake Harder

Anthony West races his way to second in the Moto2 class at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on October 28, 2012. Photo: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images

We know that a capable smartphone can do the work of hundreds of sensors. Now that capability is being applied to motorcycle racing with a new app that’ll assign numbers to every corner and straightaway, putting advanced telemetry data in the hands of mere mortals while making racers faster in the process.

Designed with the help of the Moto2 racing brain-trust, the Race Sense app takes all the metrics an on-board smartphone can read, then delivers full data readouts for later evaluation. The software uses the phone’s accelerometers, GPS, and inclinometer to plot information for braking force, lean angles, speed, and on-track location onto Google Maps — something that was only available through systems costing thousands of dollars — and allowing racers and team members to pore over reams of data to shave precious few milliseconds off each lap time.

Besides providing actionable details for professional racers, the app is meant to be used by casual enthusiasts looking for bragging rights. Users who post an epic commute time on their bike can also share their stats on Facebook and Twitter.

Moto2 racer Anthony West provided much of the R&D that went into tweaking the app. The Australian sought to diversify his earnings and invested his own cash into developing the startup. West teamed up with an Italian programmer and motorcycle rider, who is currently writing a similar program for Team Orange, a Japanese drifting team.

The iOS, Android, and Windows Phone versions of the app will be available soon, followed by a desktop version for PC and later Mac.

Here’s The Thing With Ad Blockers

We get it: Ads aren’t what you’re here for. But ads help us keep the lights on. So, add us to your ad blocker’s whitelist or pay $1 per week for an ad-free version of WIRED. Either way, you are supporting our journalism. We’d really appreciate it.